Sony Ericsson Xperia Play [Review] - True Gaming Experience for the Android Enthusiast

If you've been keeping up with Android news and release dates, you would know that the release of the Sony Xperia Play for Verizon is fast approaching us (May 26th to be exact). While attending Google I/O last week I was actually one of the lucky few who walked away with Xperia Play and since then, I've been getting loads of messages asking if the phone is worthy of a purchase. After messing around with the device for about a week now, I am excited to finally bring you my review on Sony's first gaming smartphone.

I have to say, I haven't really heard too much buzz about the device. Maybe it has something to do with the phone not yet being available in the U.S., or possibly because most of the uber techie Android snobs already have their sights locked on some of the many dual-core options coming out later this year. I have to admit, I was on that boat as well. But don't let the fact that the Xperia Play comes with a single-core processor dissuade you. I found it snappy, responsive and more than capable of handling all the 3D games from the Android Market I could throw at it. Not only that, in the UK version I'm reviewing, Sony's Timescape UI thrown on top does nothing but enhance the user experience (note- the Verizon version delivers a stock, plain, vanilla Android Google experience). One thing you should know about me, I've always preferred the super, chunky monkey, rocky road, chocolate fudge brownie UI's like that of HTC's Sense with all the polish and added functionality that comes along with it.

Alright, before we jump into the video, lets start by listing off some quick specs of the phone for those that are curious (and for others to scoff at). It comes pretty much standard with what you expect from a mid-level-ish handset these days. A 4-inch, 800x480 Super LCD display is found on top along with a VGA front facing camera. On the back you have a 5MP camera with LED flash and noise cancelling microphone. Just underneath the handsets "L and R" gaming buttons there are 2 stereo speakers tucked away out of sight. Inside we find a 1GHz, 2nd generation Snapdragon processor that seems to be aging rather gracefully. On the software side, we see that the handset is running the latest version of Android (for smartphones) 2.3.2 Gingerbread. Sony has also gone on the record as saying their Xperia line of phones come with easily unlocked bootloaders for those that like to tinker around with that kind of stuff.

Will Sony's latest offering turn out to be something truly unique in a world of smartphones not suitable for the gaming enthusiast?

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Category:

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[TheKeevers24]

@mbshyn the iphone will never have the playstation controls so the xperia wins

[BridgerNinja]

If your from the UK like me, go to Phones4u, I'm getting this phone for £160 0n pay as you go!

[hardstyleloverjjj]

@KwSKingzZ none of them there is a blue one 2 :P btw this phone sucks i have it

[hardstyleloverjjj]

@Etnies4life6 dont do it trust me if u want to game on it like modern combat nova GTA well dont i have it and its WAY to slow my games crash all the time and it has so mutch bugs i recomend an other phone .. just warning u :P

[Etnies4life6]

i cant wait to get my xperia play. this phone is amazing

[dudderzz1]

@FadeAwayAgain You can't they're console games, how do you expect to play them on a phone

[FadeAwayAgain]

hi im getting the phone xperia and i want to know how to download modern warfare 2 and 3

[99iHussain]

I am a playstation fan and I love my playstations but the reason I have iPhone instead of his is because I like apple's iOS better than android plus Xperia play is only good for gaming and I don't always play portable games

[ashmiles]

@KwSKingzZ Ive got black but I have to say it really does show the grease marks. great phone though really pleased with it.

[KwSKingzZ]

What colour should i get black or white?

[ferretlord2177]

@PODwhosoevers10 sadly no. you cannot use your digital psone or psp games with this. however it does have the playstation suite. it's a digital store exclusive to xperia play with some psp and psone games ported to and opptimized for this phone. however the android store does offer minecraft and other games with xperia control support and emulators that let you play your N64 ,ps1 ,snes ,nes and genesis roms etc. making it a great choice for all round veriety.

[Derek345679]

rapist yea you like that yea